Life. <–This was my placeholder intro paragraph when I was pulling together the content for this post, but I think it pretty well sums it up, doesn’t it? Life. 2020. Whew.
It’s time for my end-of-year wrap up. I’ve been stalling a while now because I have two publications that might be out before the end of the year, or might get bumped into 2021. (For anyone reading for awards considerations, that effects eligibility.) But I can only delay so long. If one or both of those come out between now and the 31st, I’ll update here ASAP. [Note 12/21: “A Newborn Thing” has been added below!] If not, they’ll stay under the ‘forthcoming’ section. So that makes this year’s Annie Neugebauer reading short and sweet.
Below you’ll find one original short story and two three original poems, plus one reprinted short. At the bottom are links to my blog posts, plus what’s coming out next year.
The Problem with Being a Monster– short fiction
Glug is a monster longing for human connection. When stealing a human doesn’t make him feel better, he befriends a woman who’s drawn by his monstrosity.
Stealing the baby had been a mistake. Glug knew that now. At the time he’d thought no one would notice. It was just a little one, after all.
“The Problem with Being a Monster” was published in the all-women anthology Not All Monsters by Strangehouse Books. It’s a quirky story that took its own path once it got going (as any good story is wont to do), but I started out aiming for that sweet spot between funny and scary that “Subsoil” by Nicholson Baker lands so beautifully. I think mine ended up more between funny and sad with a dash of macabre, but I’m not mad about that. You can order a copy at Amazon.
Red, Red, Red– poem
“Red, Red, Red” is an eerie poem about, well, strange and scary things that happen when the rain turns red. It was published in the Horror Writers Association Poetry Showcase Volume 7.
Remember when lightning tore the sky open
and blood poured down
beneath the agonized screams
of thunder?
You can get a copy of the Showcase on Amazon in print or ebook, chock full of beautiful and distrubing poems by wonderful poets.
A Newborn Thing– poem
“A Newborn Thing” is a poem about poems, which is one of my favorite indulgences. I happen to really love this one, and I love where it landed, too.
I suspect a poem is a newborn
mewling thing,
standing on legs still wet with wobble.
I suspect there are three
ways to grow it.
You can read my poem for free on Liminality’s website, in their winter 20-21 issue.
Things That Are Always Here– poem
A free verse piece I published on my site.
My breath,
as close as always can be.
More right than wrong;
I am breathing.
I am here.
You can read it in its entirety here on my blog.
Redless– reprinted short fiction
The color red goes missing from the world.
It’s the stop sign that finally does it.
I love this crazy little flash piece. You can buy Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volume 5 on Amazon in print, ebook, or audiobook. Listening is a blast; the narrator gives my story a Poe sort of flavor that I love.
Nonfiction (Blog Posts)
- “Women in Horror Month 2020”
- “Hello, Goodbye,” Writer Unboxed
- “9 Sexy Poems to Read with Your Valentine,” LitReactor
- “An Interview with the Women Who Wrote ‘Monster, She Wrote,’” LitReactor
- “Listen Up: 9 Audiobook Hacks,” LitReactor
- “Trying to Juggle Writing AND Parenting? Authors Share Advice,” LitReactor
- “Don’t Miss Out: A Tana French Primer,” LitReactor
- “7 Reasons You Should Actually Read Moby-Dick,” LitReactor
Forthcoming in 2021
“White Paint,” Cemetery Dance Magazine #78- “If Those Ragged Feet Won’t Run,” Apex Magazine Issue 122
- “Vestige,” reprint to be announced
To everyone who has found time to read any of my work during this crazy year, thank you. Thank you, especially, to those who have shared it, reviewed it, or sent me messages. As always, your positive feedback means the world.
I hope the end of 2020 is kind to you.
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